Bearing support and drive for controlled crown roll

ABSTRACT

Support and drive for a controlled crown roll in which a controlled nip pressure is obtained between a roll couple. The roll is in the form of a hollow roll shell journaled on a stationary center shaft, in which pressure means between the center shaft and roll shell compensate for deflection of the shaft by the nip correcting pressure on the roll shell. The shaft is journaled at its ends in pedestals and one end of the shaft extends beyond the end of its pedestal to afford a means for holding the shaft from rotation and to adjust the position of the shaft with respect to the roll shell. A drive sleeve is journaled in this housing on one set of bearings and is journaled on the shaft on an aligned set of bearings and has driving connection with the roll shell. A torque-transmitting drive connection is provided between the sleeve and the shell.

United States Patent Justus Feb. 8, 1972 [54] BEARING SUPPORT AND DRIVEFOR 3,138,089 6/1964 Shelton ..100/162 CONTROLLED CROWN ROLL 3,276,10210/1966 Justus ..29/1 16 3,286,325 11/1966 Justus ..29/1 16 [721Inventor: Edgar Justus, B910", 3,290,897 12/1966 Kuehn ..29 1 15 x [73]Assignee: Beloit Corporation, Beloit, Wis.

Primary Examiner-Elly J. W1lh1te Filedl Jllne 1965 Attorney-Hill,Sherman, Meroni, Gross 86 Simpson [2]] Appl. No.. 467,035 [57] ABSTRACTRelaed Apphcanon Dam Support and drive for a controlled crown roll inwhich a con- [63] Continuatiomimpan of 457,753 May 21, trolled nippressure is obtained between a roll couple. The roll 1965 Pat. 3,286,321is in the form of a hollow roll shell journaled on a stationary centershaft, in which pressure means between the center shaft [52 us. 01..29/ll6, 64/1 1, 100/162 B, and cmpensale deflecfim Shaft by 308/ 83correcting pressure on the roll shell. The shaft is joumaled at 51 int.c1 .3211) 13/02 its ends W1estals and end Shaft beymd 58 Field of Search..100 155, 162, 162 B, 170, 163 A; the end its Padastal affmd a meanshldmg the shaft 9/ 3 116 3 AD 11 AD. 4 308/183 from rotation and toadjust the position of the shaft respect to the roll shell. A drivesleeve is joumaled in this housing on one set of bearings and isjoumaled on the shaft on [56] References cued an aligned set of bearingsand has driving connection with the UNITED STATES PATENTS roll shell. Atorque-transmitting drive connection is provided between the sleeve andthe shell. 2,676,387 4/1954 McAm ..29/116 X 3,082,685 3/1963 Moore..l00/ 163 X 20 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures ales-3935s PAIENTED FEB amBEARING SUPPORT AND DRIVE FOR CONTROLLED CROWN ROLL This application isa continuation-in-part of my application, Ser. No. 457,753, filed May21, 1965 for SUPPORT AND DRIVE FOR CONTROLLED CROWN ROLL, and now U.S.Pat. No. 3,286,325, dated Nov. 22, 1966.

A principal object of the present invention is to improve upon thesupports and drives for controlled crown rolls heretofore in use, byrotatably supporting the roll on its stationary center shaft and bydriving the roll through the support for the center shaft.

A further object of the invention is to provide a deflectioncompensatingsupport for the stationary center shaft of a controlled crown rollarranged with a view toward utmost efflciency and compactness inconstruction and operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedsupport for the stationary center shaft of a nip-correcting crown rollcompensating for deflection of the shaft by the nip-correcting pressureson the roll, in which the center shaft is supported on at least oneantifriction bearing and in which one bearing race forms a drive memberfor the crown roll.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved form ofcontrolled crown roll having a stationary center shaft, forming areaction member for the nip-correcting pressures on the roll, in whichbending of the shaft by the nipcorrecting pressures on the roll iscompensated for by supporting the shaft on its end on supports rockableabout axes extending transversely of the axis of rotation of the roll,in which at least one support forms a bearing-casing for a drive ringrotatably driving the crown roll.

A still further object of the invention is to provide adeflection-compensating support for the stationary center shaft of acrown roll in which the center shaft is supported on supports rockableabout axes extending transversely of the axis of rotation of the rolland spaced radially therefrom, in which one of the supports formsbearing races for a plurality of radially spaced antifriction bearingmembers, and in which an inner and outer bearing race for the radiallyspaced bearing members is rotatably driven about the support and hasflexiblecoupling drive connection with the crown roll.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to timeas the following specification proceeds and with reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a controlled crown roll supportedin accordance with the principles of the present invention, with certainparts of the roll broken away and certain other parts shown inlongitudinal section; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view takenthrough one end portion of the controlled crown roll shown in FIG. 1 andillustrating the support for the stationary center shaft of the roll andthe drive from the center shaft to the crown roll.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, I haveshown a controlled crown roll assembly 11 which operates in a rollcouple with a second roll 12, as in my copending application Ser. No.339,998 filed Jan. 24, 1964 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,276,102.

The roll assembly 11 includes an elongated hollow cylindrical roll shell13 having an inner stationary core or center shaft 15 extending throughthe center thereof and beyond opposite ends thereof. The center shaft 15is hollow, to accommodate the passage of fluid pressure lines thereintoto pressurize a crown controlling pressure shoe l6 and to receivelubricating lines for lubricating the roll shell bearings. The crowncontrolling pressure shoe 16 is radially extensible from the peripheryof the shaft 15 into slidable engagement with the inner surface of theroll shell 13. The shoe 16 is rockably mounted on a rectangular piston!17, recessed within the center shaft and extending for substantiallythe length thereof, as in my aforementioned application Ser. No. 339,998now Pat. No. 3,276,102. The pressure shoe 16, the piston 17, themounting for the piston in the center shaft 15 for extensible movementwith respect thereto, and the fluid-pressure means for applying fluidunder pressure to the piston to extend the piston with respect to theperiphery of the center shaft 15 and more clearly shown and described inmy U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,1 19,324 and 3,276,102 so need not herein be shownor described further.

The roll shell 13 is shown in FIG. 2 as being supported at one end onthe shaft 15 on a self-aligning bearing 18. The opposite end of the rollshell 13 is supported on a similar bearing in a similar manner. Theself-aligning bearing 18 is herein shown as being a spherical rollerbearing, but may be of any conventional form. As herein shown, the outerrace of the selfaligning bearing 18 is supported in a bearing support 19having a flange 21 spaced inwardly of the inner end thereof andextending radially outwardly therefrom. The outer periphery of thebearing support and inner face of the flange 21 form a right-angledshouldered recess receiving the end and inner periphery of the rollshell 13. The flange 21 is secured to the end of theroll shell 13 as bystuds and nuts 22.

The opposite end of the roll shell is joumaled on the shaft 15 on asimilar self-aligning bearing (not shown), to accommodate bending of theshaft about its opposite ends by the reactions of the nip-applyingpressures on the shaft. Since the bearing supports for each end of theroll shell on the shaft 15 are similar, the support for the drive endonly need herein be shown or described in detail.

The center shaft 15 is shown in FIG. 2 as having a reduced end portion23 mounted on a rockable race member 24, carried within a roll supportand housing or casing 25. The roll support and housing or casing 25 maybe supported on a suitable pedestal 26 at its lower end. The housing orcasing 25 has a generally cylindrical inner peripheral wall 27 engagedby a lug 29, depending from the race member 24 and having a rockablebottom surface rockably engaging the cylindrical wall 27 and rockingthereabout about an axis extending transversely of and spaced radiallyof the longitudinal axis of the shaft 15, as the shaft bends by thereaction of the nip correcting reactions thereon.

The opposite end of the shaft 15 is mounted on a rockable support 28rockably supported in a support housing 30 mounted on and extendingupwardly of a pedestal 31 in the same manner the race member 24 isrockably mounted in the housing 25. The support and its housing,therefore, need not herein be shown or described further. The centershaft 15 extends through an end plate 32 for the housing 30 and has acollar 33 keyed or otherwise secured thereto having a torque arm 35depending therefrom. The torque arm 35 is shown in FIG. 1 as beingbroken away and serves to retain the center shaft 15 from rotation andto adjustably position said shaft to locate the center of the shoe 16and piston 17 exactly at the nip between the rolls 12 and 13. The torquearm and its function are well known to those skilled in the art so neednot herein be shown or described further.

The race member 24 has an inner peripheral surface having spaced innerraces 36 recessed therein, forming the outer races of antifrictionbearing members herein shown as being in the form of rollers 37. Theinner races for the rollers 37 are formed in the outer periphery ofcommon sleeve or race member 39, the inner periphery of which forms arace for radially spaced antifriction bearing members, herein shown asbeing in the form of rollers 40. The inner races for the rollers 40 areformed on the outer periphery of a race member 41, which may be lightlypressed on the reduced end portion 23 of the shaft 15. The race member41 is spaced from a shouldered end portion 43 of the shaft 23 by aspacer ring 44 and is retained in position by an inwardly extendingaxial flange 46 of the retainer 47, secured to the end of the centershaft 15 as by machine screws 49.

The reduced end portion 23 of the shaft 15 is thus supported on the racemember 24 through the respective sets of outer and inner rollers 37,37and 40,40 through the sleeve or race member 39, forming an outer racefor the inner of said rollers and an inner race for the outer of saidrollers, and rotatably mounted on said rollers form movement about theaxis of rotation of the roll shell 13.

The sleeve or race member 39 forms a drive member for, the roll shell 13and is shown as being partially recessed within an annular spacer 50 atits inner end. The annular spacer 50 is abutted at its inner end by anannular drive member 51 of a flexible coupling 52. Machine screws 53,extending through the drive member 51 and spacer 50 and threaded in theend of the race member 39, are provided to retain said drive member tosaid race member and to drive said drive member from said race member.An inner drive member 55 is spaced inwardly'of the drive member 51 andhas an inner shouldered recess 56 receiving the outer end of the bearingsupport 19 and secured thereto, as by machine screws 57. The drivemembers 51 and 55 are shown as being toothed drive members and arecoupled together by the flexible coupling 52 extending thereabout and inthe general form of an inlet a flexible chain 59, which is shown as aroller type of chain fitting about the members 51 and 55 and meshingwith the teeth of said members and driving one member from the other andcompensating for misalignment of said members which may be caused bybending of the shaft about its ends by nip-correcting loads acting onthe center of said shaft.

A drive plate 60 is secured to the outer end of the race member 39 as bymachine screws 61a. The drive plate 60 has a drive shaft 61 extendingoutwardly of the center thereof coaxial with the axis of rotation of theroll shell 13 and forming a drive shaft for the race member 39 and rollshell 13. The drive shaft 61 may be driven from a conventional drivecoupling or from any other conventional driving device.

It may be seen from the foregoing that an improved form of drive andsupport has been provided for controlled crown rolls, in which the drivemember for the roll is an inner race ring of a three race ring bearingand not only is in the support chain for the center shaft but is freelyrotatable about said shaft, to serve as a compact drive member for thecrown roll.

It may also be seen that the support and drive for the center shaft andbearing support for the crown roll on the shaft compensates for bendingof the shaft by the crown controlling loads acting thereon, effectingbending of the shaft about its ends, and that the entire drive andsupport is within the peripheral limits of the roll shell, and effectscompactness and efficiency in the drive by driving the roll shell by thesleeve or race ring for the inner and outer rollers, forming bearings,for the race ring and a support for the center shaft.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which the inventionmay be embodied, it may readily be understood that various variationsand modifications in the invention may be attained without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof.

I claim as my invention: 1. A roll structure comprising, a cylindricalroll shell, a center shaft extending along the interior of said rollshell and having crown correcting cooperation therewith,

bearing means supporting said shell on said shaft and accommodatingbending of said shaft by the reaction of the crown correcting pressuresthereon,

support means for the ends of said shaft including supports at oppositeends of said shaft mounting said shaft for rockable movement about axesextending transversely of the axis of rotation of said shell, andaccommodating bending of said shaft about its opposite ends by the nipcorrecting pressures on said shaft between the ends thereof.

2. A roll structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of saidsupports includes a bearing casing,

and wherein bearings are carried within said casing and include a racemember forming a drive member for said roll shell.

3. A roll structure in accordance with claim 1,

wherein a flexible coupling forms a drive connection between said racemember and said roll shell.

4. A roll structure comprising,

a cylindrical roll shell,

a center shaft extending along the interior of said shell and havingcrown-correcting cooperation therewith,

bearing means rotatably supporting and roll shell on said shaft,

supports for the ends of said shaft mounting said shaft for rockablemovement about an axis extending transversely of the axis of said rollshell and accommodating bending of said shaft by the reaction of thecrown-correcting loads thereon,

one of said supports including a bearing casing and containing bearingmeans supporting said shaft in said casing, and drive means for saidroll shell rotatably joumaled in said casing by said bearing means.

5. A roll structure comprising,

a cylindrical roll shell,

a center shaft extending along the interior of said roll shell andhaving crown correcting cooperation therewith, bearing means supportingsaid shell on said shaft adjacent opposite ends thereof,

supports for the ends of said shaft mounting said shaft for rockablemovement about axes extending transversely of the axis of said rollshell and accommodating bending of said shaft of by the reaction of thecrown correcting loads thereon,

the support for at least one end of said shaft comprising abearing-casing containing a pair of concentric radially spaced bearingmembers,

a common race member for said bearing members forming an outer race forthe inner of said bearing members and an inner race for the outer ofsaid bearing members,

said common race member forming a drive member for said roll shell.

6. A crown roll in accordance with claim 5,

wherein a flexible drive connection is provided between the common raceand the roll shell.

7. A roll structure comprising,

a cylindrical roll shell,

a stationary center shaft extending along the interior of said rollshell and having crown-correcting cooperation therewith,

bearing means rotatably supporting said roll shell on said shaft,

supports for the ends of said shaft, mounting said shaft for rockablemovement about axes extending transversely of the axis of said rollshell,

at least one of said supports including a bearing-casing con tainingthree concentric radially spaced race members, the intermediate of whichforms races on its opposite sides for inner and outer bearing members,

a drive connection to said intermediate race member,

and a drive connection between said intermediate race member to saidroll shell.

8. A roll structure in accordance with claim 7,

wherein the drive connection between the intermediate race member andthe roll shell is a self-aligning flexible drive connection.

9. A roll structure comprising,

a cylindrical roll shell,

a nonrotatable center shaft extending axially along the center of saidroll shell and having crown-correcting cooperation therewith,

self-aligning bearing means rotatably supporting said shell on saidshaft at opposite ends of said shell,

supports for said shaft on each end of said shaft and mounting saidshaft for rockable movement about an axis extending transversely of theaxis of rotation of said shell,

a drive member for said roll shell rotatably mounted in one of saidsupports,

and a flexible drive connection from said drive member to said rollshell.

10. A drive mechanism for a shell-type roll comprising,

a shaft,

a hollow roll,

bearing means rotatably mounting said hollow roll on said shaft,

support means,

a driving member rotatably mounted within said support means,

bearing means disposed between one end of said shaft and said drivingmember supporting said end of said shaft on said support means throughsaid drive means,

torque-transmitting means interconnecting said driving member and saidhollow roll,

and sealing means disposed about said transmitting member and definingwith said support means a reservoir for retaining lubricants for all ofsaid bearing means and said torque-transmitting means.

11. A drive mechanism for a shell-type roll comprising,

a nonrotatable shaft,

a hollow roll,

bearing means rotatably mounting said hollow roll on said shaft,

support means,

a driving member rotatably mounted within said support means,

bearing means disposed between one end of said shaft and said drivingmember supporting said end of said shaft on said support means throughsaid drive means,

torque-transmitting means disposed about said shaft and interconnectingsaid driving member and said hollow roll,

and sealing means disposed about said transmitting member and definingwith said support means a reservoir for retaining lubricants for all ofsaid bearing means and said torque-transmitting means.

12. in combination,

a nonrotatable shaft,

a roll shell rotatably mounted at either end thereof on said shaft,

the ends of said shaft extending beyond said roll shell,

drive means at one end of said shaft comprising a rotatable drive shaft,

a drive member attached it said drive shaft,

a support and housing member,

first bearing means rotatably supporting said drive member within saidhousing member,

second bearing means within said drive member coaxially supporting saidone end of said shaft in said housing through said drive member,

a sleevelike torque-transmitting member disposed normally coaxiallyabout said shaft between said roll shell and directly geared to bothsaid drive member and said roll shell,

said drive member and said roll shell being the sole means supportingsaid sleevelike member.

13. A drive mechanism for a shell-type roll comprising,

a nonrotatable shaft,

a hollow roll,

bearing means rotatably mounting said hollow roll on said shaft,

support means,

said shaft extending into said support means,

a driving member,

a bearing assembly disposed about said shaft in said support means,

said bearing assembly comprising a rotatable race connected to saiddriving member at one end of said race,

a gear member connected to said rotatable race coaxial therewith,

and a coupling member in meshing engagement with said gear member andconnected to said shell roll.

14. In combination,

a shaft,

a roll shell rotatably mounted at either end thereof on said shaft,

the ends of said shaft extending beyond said roll shell,

drive means at an end of said shaft comprising a rotatable drive shaft,

a housing member,

bearing means rotatably supporting said drive member within said housingmember,

said bearing means comprising a coaxial three-race assembly havingbearing elements between the outer and intermediate races and betweenthe inner and intermediate race,

said outer race being nonrotatably carried within said housing member,

said inner race being nonrotatably mounted on said end of said shaft,

said drive shaft being connected to said intennediate race,

and a sleevelike coupling member disposed about said shaft and interconnecting said intermediate race and said roll shell; wherein theimprovement comprises means for angularly flexibly connecting saidcoupling member nonrotatably to said intermediate race and to said rollshell,

said coupling member being angularly deflectable.

15. A drive mechanism for a shell-type roll comprising,

a nonrotatable shaft,

a hollow roll,

bearing means rotatably mounting said hollow roll on said shaft,

support means,

a driving member rotatably mounted within said support means,

bearing means disposed between one end of said shaft and said drivingmember supporting said end of said shaft on said support means throughsaid drive means,

and torque-transmitting means disposed about said shaft andinterconnecting said driving member and said hollow roll; wherein theimprovement comprises said torquetransmitting means being fonned by anangularly deflectible sleevelike coupling member disposed about saidshaft,

and means for angularly flexibly connecting said coupling membernonrotatably to said driving member and said hollow roll.

16. A drive mechanism for a shell-type roll comprising,

a nonrotatable shaft,

a hollow roll,

first bearing means rotatably mounting said hollow roll on said shaftsupport means,

a driving member rotatably mounted within said support means,

second bearing means disposed between one end of said shaft and saiddriving member supporting said end of said shaft on said support meansthrough said driving member,

and torque-transmitting means interconnecting said driving member andsaid hollow roll.

17. A drive mechanism for a shell-type roll constructed in accordancewith claim 16,

wherein said first bearing means is self-aligning accommodating relativebending between the hollow roll and the shaft.

18. A drive mechanism for a shell-type roll constructed in accordancewith claim 16,

wherein said torque-transmitting member includes toothed elements oneach of said driving member and said roll,

and an annular member bridging between said toothed ele' ments anddrivingly meshing with each of the toothed elements and accommodatingchanges in alignment between said elements.

19. A drive mechanism for a shell-type roll comprising,

a nonrotatable shaft,

a hollow roll,

force transmitting means between said hollow roll and said shaft andextending throughout substantially the length of the roll on one sidethereof,

support means,

a driving member,

first bearing means rotatably supporting said driving member within saidsupporting means,

shaft and extending throughout substantially the length of the roll onone side thereof,

support means,

a driving member,

first bearing means rotatably supporting said driving member within saidsupport means,

second bearing means supporting one end of said shaft on said supportmeans by means of said driving member,

and a flexible coupling interconnecting said driving member and saidhollow roll.

1. A roll structure comprising, a cylindrical roll shell, a center shaftextending along the interior of said roll shell and having crowncorrecting cooperation therewith, bearing means supporting said shell onsaid shaft and accommodating bending of said shaft by the reaction ofthe crown correcting pressures thereon, support means for the ends ofsaid shaft including supports at opposite ends of said shaft mountingsaid shaft for rockable movement about axes extending transversely ofthe axis of rotation of said shell, and accommodating bending of saidshaft about its opposite ends by the nip correcting pressures on saidshaft between the ends thereof.
 2. A roll structure in accordance withclaim 1, wherein one of said supports includes a bearing casing, andwherein bearings are carried within said casing and include a racemember forming a drive member for said roll shell.
 3. A roll structurein accordance with claim 1, wherein a flexible coupling forms a driveconnection between said race member and said roll shell.
 4. A rollstructure comprising, a cylindrical roll shell, a center shaft extendingalong the interior of said shell and having crown-correcting cooperationtherewith, bearing means rotatably supporting and roll shell on saidshaft, supports for the ends of said shaft mounting said shaft forrockable movement about an axis extending transversely of the axis ofsaid roll shell and accommodating bending of said shaft by the reactionof the crown-correcting loads thereon, one of said supports including abearing casing and containing bearing means supporting said shaft insaid casing, and drive means for said roll shell rotatably journaled insaid casing by said bearing means.
 5. A roll structure comprising, acylindrical roll shell, a center shaft extending along the interior ofsaid roll shell and having crown correcting cooperation therewith,bearing means supporting said shell on said shaft adjacent opposite endsthereof, supports for the ends of said shaft mounting said shaft forrockable movement about axes extending transversely of the axis of saidroll shell and accommodating bending of said shaft of by the reaction ofthe crown correcting loads thereon, the support for at least one end ofsaid shaft comprising a bearing-casing containing a pair of concentricradially spaced bearing members, a common race member for said bearingmembers forming an outer race for the inner of said bearing members andan inner race for the outer of said bearing members, said common racemember forming a drive member for said roll shell.
 6. A crown roll inaccordance with claim 5, wherein a flexible drive connection is providedbetween the common race and the roll shell.
 7. A roll structurecomprising, a cylindrical roll shell, a stationary center shaftextending along the interior of said roll shell and havingcrown-correcting cooperation therewith, bearing means rotatablysupporting said roll shell on said shaft, supports for the ends of saidshaft, mounting said shaft for rockable movement about axes extendingtransversely of the axis of said roll shell, at least one of saidsupports including a bearing-casing containing three concentric radiallyspaced race members, the intermediate of which forms races on itsopposite sides for inner and outer bearing members, a drive connectionto said intermediate race member, and a drive connection between saidintermediate race member to said roll shell.
 8. A roll structure inaccordance with claim 7, wherein the drive connection between theintermediate race member and the roll shell is a self-aligning flexibledrive connection.
 9. A roll structure comprising, a cylindrical rollshell, a nonrotatable center shaft extending axially along the center ofsaid roll shell and having crown-correcting cooperation therewith,self-aligning bearing means rotatably supporting said shell on saidshaft at opposite ends of said shell, supports for said shaft on eachend of said shaft and mounting said shaft for rockable movement about anaxis extending transversely of the axis of rotation of said shell, adrive member for said roll shell rotatably mounted in one of saidsupports, and a flexible drive connection from said drive member to saidroll shell.
 10. A drive mechanism for a shell-type roll comprising, ashaft, a hollow roll, bearing means rotatably mounting said hollow rollon said shaft, support means, a driving member rotatably mounted withinsaid support means, bearing means disposed between one end of said shaftand said driving member supporting said end of said shaft on saidsupport means through said drive means, torque-transmitting meansinterconnecting said driving member and said hollow roll, and sealingmeans disposed about said transmitting member and defining with saidsupport means a reservoir for retaining lubricants for all of saidbearing means and said torque-transmitting means.
 11. A drive mechanismfor a shell-type roll comprising, a nonrotatable shaft, a hollow roll,bearing means rotatably mounting said hollow roll on said shaft, supportmeans, a driving member rotatably mounted within said support means,bearing means disposed between one end of said shaft and said drivingmember supporting said end of said shaft on said support means throughsaid drive means, torque-transmitting means disposed about said shaftand interconnecting said driving member and said hollow roll, andsealing means disposed about said transmitting member and defining withsaid support means a reservoir for retaining lubricants for all of saidbearing means and said torque-transmitting means.
 12. In combination, anonrotatable shaft, a roll shell rotatably mounted at either end thereofon said shaft, the ends of said shaft extending beyond said roll shell,drive means at one end of said shaft comprising a rotatable drive shaft,a drive member attached to said drive shaft, a support and housingmember, first bearing means rotatably supporting said drive memberwithin said housing member, second bearing means within said drivemember coaxially supporting said one end of said shaft in said housingthrough said drive member, a sleevelike torque-transmitting memberdisposed normally coaxially about said shaft between said roll shell anddirectly geared to both said drive member and said roll shell, saiddrive member and said roll shell being the sole means supporting saidsleevelike member.
 13. A drive mechanism for a shell-type rollcomprising, a nonrotatable shaft, a hollow roll, bearing means rotatablymounting said hollow roll on said shaft, support means, said shaftextending into said support means, a driving member, a bearing assemblydisposed about said shaft in said support means, said bearing assemblycomprising a roTatable race connected to said driving member at one endof said race, a gear member connected to said rotatable race coaxialtherewith, and a coupling member in meshing engagement with said gearmember and connected to said shell roll.
 14. In combination, a shaft, aroll shell rotatably mounted at either end thereof on said shaft, theends of said shaft extending beyond said roll shell, drive means at anend of said shaft comprising a rotatable drive shaft, a housing member,bearing means rotatably supporting said drive member within said housingmember, said bearing means comprising a coaxial three-race assemblyhaving bearing elements between the outer and intermediate races andbetween the inner and intermediate race, said outer race beingnonrotatably carried within said housing member, said inner race beingnonrotatably mounted on said end of said shaft, said drive shaft beingconnected to said intermediate race, and a sleevelike coupling memberdisposed about said shaft and inter connecting said intermediate raceand said roll shell; wherein the improvement comprises means forangularly flexibly connecting said coupling member nonrotatably to saidintermediate race and to said roll shell, said coupling member beingangularly deflectable.
 15. A drive mechanism for a shell-type rollcomprising, a nonrotatable shaft, a hollow roll, bearing means rotatablymounting said hollow roll on said shaft, support means, a driving memberrotatably mounted within said support means, bearing means disposedbetween one end of said shaft and said driving member supporting saidend of said shaft on said support means through said drive means, andtorque-transmitting means disposed about said shaft and interconnectingsaid driving member and said hollow roll; wherein the improvementcomprises said torque-transmitting means being formed by an angularlydeflectible sleevelike coupling member disposed about said shaft, andmeans for angularly flexibly connecting said coupling membernonrotatably to said driving member and said hollow roll.
 16. A drivemechanism for a shell-type roll comprising, a nonrotatable shaft, ahollow roll, first bearing means rotatably mounting said hollow roll onsaid shaft, support means, a driving member rotatably mounted withinsaid support means, second bearing means disposed between one end ofsaid shaft and said driving member supporting said end of said shaft onsaid support means through said driving member, and torque-transmittingmeans interconnecting said driving member and said hollow roll.
 17. Adrive mechanism for a shell-type roll constructed in accordance withclaim 16, wherein said first bearing means is self-aligningaccommodating relative bending between the hollow roll and the shaft.18. A drive mechanism for a shell-type roll constructed in accordancewith claim 16, wherein said torque-transmitting member includes toothedelements on each of said driving member and said roll, and an annularmember bridging between said toothed elements and drivingly meshing witheach of the toothed elements and accommodating changes in alignmentbetween said elements.
 19. A drive mechanism for a shell-type rollcomprising, a nonrotatable shaft, a hollow roll, force transmittingmeans between said hollow roll and said shaft and extending throughoutsubstantially the length of the roll on one side thereof, support means,a driving member, first bearing means rotatably supporting said drivingmember within said support means, second bearing means disposed betweenone end of said shaft and said driving member supporting said end ofsaid shaft on said support means through said driving member, saidsecond bearing means being at the same axial location as said firstbearing means, means interconnecting said driving member and said hollowrolL.
 20. A drive mechanism for a shell-type roll comprising, anonrotatable shaft, a hollow roll, force transmitting means between saidhollow roll and said shaft and extending throughout substantially thelength of the roll on one side thereof, support means, a driving member,first bearing means rotatably supporting said driving member within saidsupport means, second bearing means supporting one end of said shaft onsaid support means by means of said driving member, and a flexiblecoupling interconnecting said driving member and said hollow roll.